Modular casing structure

ABSTRACT

A modular housing assembly comprises a base cabinet body having a height and four orthogonal wall elements. A fifth wall element is angled with respect to the first, second, third and fourth wall elements and a pedestal is fixed below the third wall element. First and second lateral protective walls overlay the first and second wall elements and extend along the height of the cabinet body. A double-walled door is mounted with respect to the base cabinet body and a roof housing fixed above the fourth wall element. Wall redundancy substantially increases the ability of the assembly to resist vandalism and further protect the contents of such assembly.

RELATED APPLICATION AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a 371 of PCT Application No. PCT/EP97/00654 havingan international filing date of Feb. 13, 1997, which designates at leastone country in addition to the United States and which claims priorityfrom German Application No. 196 09 699.5 filed Mar. 13, 1996. Forpriority purposes, this application claims the benefit of 35 USC 371and/or 35 USC 120.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to cabinet-structure type supports and, moreparticularly, to such supports having plural closures, e.g., auxiliaryclosure within closure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is not uncommon for industrial equipment to be mounted in out-of-doorcabinets or housings exposed to the weather and, particularly, tooccasional vandalism. While ways to configure equipment housings toresist weather are well-known, not a great deal of attention has beengiven to configuring housings to resist vandalism. This is an importantconsideration since the housing may contain equipment, e.g.,communication or other electrical equipment, important or even criticalto users connected thereto.

Switch cabinets are often assembled on a pedestal with an airconditioner fastened to the roof of the switch cabinet. It is also knownthat smaller cabinet units can be arranged and connected one on top ofthe other.

A disadvantage of such known cabinets is that access to the cabinetinterior can often be gained by forcing open or tearing or piercing acabinet door or static panel. A housing assembly which addresses thisdisadvantage would be an important advancement in the art.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a modular housing assembly thatovercomes some of the shortcomings of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modular housing assemblythat offers considerably improved protection against vandalism. Howthese and other objects are accomplished will become apparent from thefollowing descriptions and from the drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention involves a modular housing assembly comprised of a basecabinet body having five wall elements, a pedestal, one or more groundhousings and a roof housing. Additional protective "overlay-type"lateral walls extend along part or all of the height of the assembledhousing. A double-walled door closes and locks at least the base cabinetbody.

According to the invention, at least the base cabinet body is secured onall sides by two respective walls so that entry into its inner space ismade considerably more difficult. The lateral protective walls (whichare actually exterior walls overlaying parallel interior walls) lend thevisual impression of a conventional assembly. This so since the lateralprotective walls extend over and cover or "mask" the joints whereindividual modular units of the housing assembly are joined together. Inorder to gain entry to the inner space of the base cabinet body, theground housing or the roof housing, two respective walls, e.g., sheetmetal walls, must be penetrated or otherwise defeated. This structurerepresents considerably improved protection against vandalism forhousings that are set up outside.

According to one embodiment of the invention, instead of thedouble-panel wall element serving as the rear wall of the base cabinetbody, one or more wall air conditioners are connected to the basecabinet body so that the components in the base cabinet body can becooled. The air conditioners are, themselves, double-walled and serve tocompletely close that area otherwise closed by the rear wall.

In another aspect of the invention, the housing assembly includes one ormore ground housings beneath the base cabinet body. In a more specificembodiment, a single ground housing is configured as a batteryreceptacle, thereby equipping the assembly with a source of standbyemergency power. Most preferably, access to the batteries is by a groundhousing fitted with a pull-out drawer.

In yet another configuration, the housing assembly includes a frame-likepedestal interposed between and connected to both the base cabinet body(the main compartment for equipment confined in the assembly) and to thesingle or plural ground housings, as the case may be. To state itanother way, the pedestal is mounted to "subdivide" the base cabinetbody from the ground housing(s).

In a variation of such configuration, the single or plural groundhousings are interposed between the base cabinet body and the pedestal.In this configuration, the pedestal closes off the underside of theground housing(s) and isolates such ground housing(s) from theunderlying support surface, e.g., the earth or a concrete pad or thelike.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, cooling of the interior ofthe base cabinet body (and of the equipment confined in it) isimplemented by a box-like (i.e., enclosed) roof air conditioner receivedinto the roof housing. This construction provides double wall protectionfor the air conditioner and the lateral, vertically extending protectivewalls need not extend sufficiently far upward to overlay the roofhousing. However, if the lateral protective walls are extended upwardlyto overlay the roof housing, then vandal-resisting security in this areais further increased.

In still another embodiment of the invention, a type of rain protectionis achieved if the roof housing used on the assembly having the built-inroof air conditioner is covered by a roof element that extends beyondall outward edges of the roof housing. Most preferably, such roofelement extends sufficiently far outwardly to define a circumscribingventilation slot between the roof element and the roof housing. Asimilar configuration is used with that arrangement wherein one or morewall air conditioners are mounted to the base cabinet body. Since suchwall air conditioners jut outward horizontally, the roof element alsojuts outwardly to extend horizontally beyond all outward edges of thebase cabinet body and wall air conditioner(s) sufficiently far to definethe circumscribing ventilation slot.

Where one or two wall air conditioners are used, the greatest securityand vandal resistance is achieved in the rear area of the base cabinetbody by constructing the wall air conditioners to have double walls andthe inner wall facing the base cabinet body with both an outlet and aninlet opening.

And the overall height of such air conditioners may vary. Such airconditions may extend "top to bottom," i.e., from the top edge of theroof housing to the bottom edge of the ground housing. Or such airconditioners may be constructed to extend only along the height of thebase cabinet body. In this configuration, it is preferred to cover theground housing and the roof housing with second protective wallcomponents above and below the air conditioners.

It is noted above that a double-walled door closes and locks at leastthe base cabinet body. For reasons of appearance and security, such doormay extend along the entire height of the base cabinet body, the groundhousing(s) and the roof housing.

And the lateral protective walls may be coextensive with (and extendalong the height of) only the ground housings, the base cabinet body andthe roof housing. In such embodiment, the pedestal is oversized slightlyso that its outer perimeter is flush with the outer sides of the doorand lateral protective walls.

In order to prevent the exposed lateral protective walls and the wallscovered thereby from being loosened from the outside, it is preferredthat such walls be attached to the housing with fasteners that areneither visible nor accessible from the outside. In such embodiment, theroof element, the roof housing and the ground housing(s) are secured byvirtue of an access door which overlaps such element and housings whenthe door is closed. The invention is explained in more detail on thebasis of two exemplified embodiments shown in the drawings in explodedillustration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the modular housing assemblywith certain components, e.g., modular units.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the modular housing assemblywith other components or modular units.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows the modular housing assembly which includes a base cabinetbody 10 with first and second wall elements 11, 14, respectively, thirdand fourth wall elements 11, 13, respectively, and a fifth or closurewall element 15 which in one embodiment, is a flat sheet metal element.A frame-like pedestal 20, attached to the body 10 adjacent to the wallelement 11, serves as a ground wall. Both ground housings 30.1 and 30.2are connected to the underside of the pedestal 20 and support suchpedestal 20 as well as the components above such pedestal 20.

A roof housing 40 is fastened to the wall element 13 and serves as acovering wall for the cabinet body 10. Such roof housing 40 is coveredby a roof element 50.1 which, preferably, extends beyond all sides ofthe roof housing 40 and defines a circumscribing ventilation slotbetween such element 50.1 and the housing 40.

As a deterrent to unauthorized entry into the assembly and to help avoiddamage to equipment confined therein, at least the walls 12, 14 of thecabinet body 10 are overlaid or covered by lateral protective walls 60.As further described, such walls 60 may have a vertical height to becoextensive only with walls 12, 14 or may have a height that enablessuch walls 60 to cover, for example, some or all of the componentsincluding the roof housing 40, the pedestal 20, and the ground housings30.1, 30.2. Similarly, the closure wall element 15 and the door 70 canbe coextensive with some or all of such components so that overalldouble-walled construction is achieved.

Instead of using wall element 15 formed of flat sheet metal (or a doublelayer thereof), the element 15 may be embodied as a single airconditioner 15.3 or as a pair of wall air conditioners 15.1 and 15.2 andbe mounted to the base cabinet body 10. In the instance of the latter,the air conditioners 15.1, 15.2 include an inlet opening 17 (throughwhich warmer air flows from the body 10 to the conditioner 15.1) and anoutlet opening 16 through which chilled air flows from the conditioner15.1 to the body 10.

In such embodiment, it is preferred to use roof element 50.2 which isadapted to the protruding shape of the wall air conditioners 15.1 and15.2. In other words, element 50.2 protrudes horizontally beyond thewalls 60, the air conditioners 15.1, 15.2 and the door 70 to a dimensionsuch that a circumscribing ventilation slot is defined. And it is alsopreferred that such air conditioners 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 are of double wallconstruction to provide redundancy in inhibiting access to the interiorof the body 10 and in preventing damage to its contents.

The housing assembly configured in one of the ways described above isvery resistant to vandalism. Such resistance is enhanced if the lateralprotective walls 60 and the wall air conditioners 15.1 and 15.2 arefastened to the base cabinet body 10, the ground housing 30.1 and 30.2and the roof housing 40 with fasteners that are neither visible noraccessible from the outside.

If the wall air conditioners 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 are coextensive with onlythe base cabinet body 10, then additional lateral protective walls canbe attached to cover the ground housings 30.1 and 30.2 and the roofhousing 40, in order to complete the housing assembly in double walledfashion.

FIGS. 1 and 2, taken together, disclose an embodiment of the assembly inwhich the ground housing 30.3 is constructed as a battery receptacle.Housing 30.3 is configured to receive appropriate batteries with slightclearance and, preferably, housing 30.3 has a drawer 31 that receivesthe batteries. (Of course, the size and number of such batteries mayvary with the application.) The lateral width of the base cabinet body10 is selected to be about equal to the lateral width of the housing30.3, thereby allowing the housing 30.3 and the body 10 to be connecteddirectly to one another. The pedestal 20 then closes off the housingassembly in relation to the supporting surface.

In another embodiment of the invention, the roof housing 40 receives aroof air conditioner 40.1 and the housing 40 and conditioner 40.1 arecovered by roof element 50.1. In a fashion similar to that describedabove, element 50.1 juts horizontally outward beyond all sides of theroof housing 40 to the dimension necessary to define a circumscribingventilating slot between the element 50.1 and the housing 40.

The door 70 has double walls and, as a minimum, the vertical dimensionof such door 70 is selected to be coextensive with only the base cabinetbody 10. A door 70 of greater vertical dimension would, depending uponthe dimension, also be coextensive with the roof housing 40, or theground housing 30.3 or both of the housings 40, 30.3

Similarly, the lateral protective walls 60 have a vertical dimensionsuch that the walls 60 are, as a minimum, coextensive with the walls 12,14. Walls 60 of greater vertical dimension would, depending upon thedimension, also be coextensive with the roof housing 40, the pedestal20, the grounding housing 30.3, the ground housings 30.1, 30.2.

The individual modules in this housing assembly can be manufacturedoptimally and in a cost effective manner with regard to the selection ofmaterials and surfaces. The base cabinet body 10 can be manufactured ofaluminum zinc coated steel sheet without the need for further paintingand can be used as a high frequency (HF) shielded cabinet. The visibleprotective walls can be individually treated, e.g., they can be powdercoated.

While the principles of the invention have been shown and described inconnection with but a few embodiments, it is to be understood clearlythat such embodiments are by way of example and are not limiting.

What is claimed:
 1. A modular housing assembly, comprising:a base cabinet body having a height and a first wall element and a second wall element parallel to each other; a third wall element and a fourth wall element parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first and second wall elements; a fifth wall element angled with respect to the first, second, third and fourth wall elements; a pedestal fixed below the third wall element; a first lateral protective wall and a second lateral protective wall overlaying the first and second wall elements and extending along the height of the cabinet body; a double-walled door mounted with respect to the base cabinet body, and a roof housing fixed above the fourth wall element.
 2. The housing assembly of claim 1 wherein:the fifth wall element is embodied as at least one wall air conditioner mounted with respect to the base cabinet body.
 3. The housing assembly according to claim 2 wherein:the wall air conditioner is attached to the base cabinet body; and a roof element is fixed above the base cabinet body, projects beyond the base cabinet body and define a circumscribing ventilation slot between the roof element and the base cabinet body.
 4. The housing assembly of claim 2 wherein:the wall air conditioner is of double-wall construction and includes an inner wall and an outer wall; the inner wall of the air conditioner faces the base cabinet body and includes an outlet opening and an inlet opening.
 5. The housing assembly of claim 2 wherein:the wall air conditioner is coextensive with the base cabinet body; and the ground housing and the roof housing are overlayed with respective protection walls.
 6. The housing assembly of claim 5 wherein the lateral protective walls and the protection walls are attached to the base cabinet body by fasteners which are invisible and inaccessible from the exterior of the assembly.
 7. The housing assembly of claim 1 including a ground housing fixed below the base cabinet body and defining a battery receptacle.
 8. The housing assembly of claim 7 wherein the ground housing includes a pull-out drawer.
 9. The housing assembly of claim 1 including a pedestal fixed below the base cabinet body and a ground housing fixed below the pedestal.
 10. The housing assembly of claim 1 including a ground housing fixed below the base cabinet body and a pedestal fixed below the ground housing.
 11. The housing assembly of claim 10 wherein:the lateral protective walls are coextensive with the ground housing, the base cabinet body and the roof housing; the door has an exterior surface; and the pedestal is flush with the door exterior surface and with the lateral protective walls.
 12. The housing assembly of claim 1 including a roof housing fixed above the fourth wall element and containing an air conditioner therein.
 13. The housing assembly of claim 12 including a roof element fixed above the roof housing and projecting beyond such roof housing, thereby defining a circumscribing ventilation slot between the roof element and the roof housing.
 14. The housing assembly of claim 13 including a ground housing fixed below the base cabinet body and wherein the door overlaps and secures the roof housing and the ground housing.
 15. The housing assembly of claim 1 including a ground housing fixed below the base cabinet body and a double-wall closure door extending to cover the base cabinet body, the ground housing and the roof housing.
 16. The housing assembly of claim 1 wherein:the base cabinet body is made of steel sheet and is free of a surface protection layer; and the lateral protective walls include a protective surface coating. 